COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Senate on Wednesday took the first step to remove Ohio Supreme Court Justice William O'Neill from the bench as the Democrat campaigns for governor.

The Senate voted 25-8 on a fast-tracked resolution calling O'Neill, the high court's lone Democrat, to the chamber to make his case to remain on the court. The resolution needs votes from two-thirds of the House to pass. Both chambers can then vote to remove O'Neill with a two-thirds vote, according to the Ohio Constitution.

But the effort probably won't make it that far.

O'Neill plans to resign Jan. 26. House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger said his chamber doesn't plan to take up the resolution.

O'Neill said the General Assembly is wasting its time, but he welcomes the opportunity to address lawmakers in Columbus. O'Neill said he'd talk about his 15-year career as a jurist and his plan to legalize recreational marijuana and use the proceeds for mental health and addiction treatment.

"That's what this is about. They don't want me to be the governor of Ohio and don't want me to bring ideas to the table this election year," O'Neill said.

O'Neill announced he was running for governor in October and has since picked a running mate. The Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct says a judge should resign from office "upon becoming a candidate in a primary or general election for a nonjudicial elective office." He recused himself from hearing new cases but has not stepped down from the court because he says he is not officially a candidate until he files paperwork with the Ohio secretary of state's office.

Ohio Republicans, including Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, have disagreed with O'Neill's interpretation of the code of conduct and called on him to resign. Those calls amplified and were joined by Democrats after O'Neill wrote on Facebook he had bedded more than 50 women and included identifying details about two of the women.

Republican Gov. John Kasich will get to choose his replacement.

Senate President Larry Obhof, a Medina Republican, sponsored the resolution and rushed it to floor Wednesday.

"We've given him three months to do the right thing," Obhof said. "Instead, he's stretched this out as long as possible."

Democrats who voted against the measure said it was a waste of time because O'Neill said he will resign next week and the judiciary should enforce the judicial code of conduct, not the legislature.

The resolution gives O'Neill 10 days to respond -- after it clears the House -- and O'Neill plans to leave office eight days from now.

"With all the things we've got to do in this body, why are we doing this now?" Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko said.